Abstract
This study reported, the effect of random variation in system properties on bending response of single wall carbon nanotube reinforced composite (SWCNTRC) plates subjected to transverse uniform loading is examined. System parameters such as the SWCNT armchair, material properties, plate thickness and volume fraction of SWCNT are modelled as basic random variables. The basic formulation is based on higher order shear deformation theory to model the system behavior of the SWCNTRC composite plate. A C0 finite element method in conjunction with the first order perturbation technique procedure developed earlier by the authors for the plate subjected to lateral loading is employed to obtain the mean and variance of the transverse deflection of the plate. The performance of the stochastic SWCNTRC composite model is demonstrated through a comparison of mean transverse central deflection with those results available in the literature and standard deviation of the deflection with an independent First Order perturbation Technique (FOPT), Second Order perturbation Technique (SOPT) and Monte Carlo simulation.

Abstract
The thermal effects on the buckling, postbuckling and nonlinear vibration behaviors of composite laminated trapezoidal plates are studied. Aiming at the complex plate structure and to simulate the temperature distribution of the plate, a finite element method (FEM) is applied in this paper. In the temperature model, based on the thermal diffusion equation, the Galerkin\'s method is employed to establish the temperature equation of the composite laminated trapezoidal plate. The geometrical nonlinearity of the plate is considered by using the von Karman large deformation theory, and combining the thermal model and aeroelastic model, Hamilton\'s principle is employed to establish the thermoelastic equation of motion of the composite laminated trapezoidal plate. The thermal buckling and postbuckling of the composite laminated rectangular plate are analyzed to verify the validity and correctness of the present methodology by comparing with the results reported in the literature. Moreover, the effects of the temperature with the ply-angle on the thermal buckling and postbuckling of the composite laminated trapezoidal plates are studied, the thermal effects on the nonlinear vibration behaviors of the composite laminated trapezoidal plates are discussed, and the frequency-response curves are also presented for the different temperatures and ply angles.

Abstract
This paper reports a novel steel beam-to-column connection suitable for use in the weak axis of I-section column. Monotonic and cyclic loading experimental investigations and numerical analysis of the proposed weak-axis connection were conducted, and the calculation procedure of the beam-column relative rotation angle and plastic rotation angle was developed and described in details. A comparative analysis of mechanical property and steel consumption were employed for the proposed I-section column weak-axis connection and box-section column bending connection. The result showed that no signs of fracturing were observed and the plastic hinge formed reliably in the beam section away from the skin plate under the beam end monotonic loading, and the plastic hinge formed much closer to the skin plate under the beam end cyclic loading. The fracture of welds between diaphragm and skin plate would cause an unstable hysteretic response under the column top horizontal cyclic loading. The proposed weak-axis connection system could not only simplify the design calculation progress when I-section column is adopted in frame structural design but also effectively satisfy the requirements of \'strong joint and weak member\', as well as lower steel consumption.

Abstract
Experimental investigations have revealed significant mismatches between analytical estimates and experimentally measured deflections of transmission towers. These are attributed to bolt slip and joint flexibility. This study focuses on effects of joint flexibility on tower deflections and proposes criterions for permissible deflection limits based on the stresses in joints. The objective has been framed given that guidelines are not available in the codes of practices for transmission towers with regard to the permissible limits of deflection. The analysis procedure is geometric and material nonlinear with consideration of joint flexibility in the form of extension or contraction of the cover plates. The deflections due to bolt slip are included in the study by scaling up the deflections obtained from analysis by a factor. Using the results of the analysis, deflection limits for the towers are proposed by limiting the stresses in the joints. The obtained limits are then applied to a new full scale tower to demonstrate the application of the current study.

Abstract
In this paper, the response of an underground fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) composite pipe system subjected to realistic loading scenarios that may be experienced by an actual buried pipeline is investigated. The model replicates an arbitrary site with a length of buried pipeline, passing through a 90o bend and into a valve pit. Various loading conditions, which include effects of pipe pressurization, differences in response between stainless steel and fibreglass composite pipes and severe loss of bed-soil support are studied. In addition to pipe response, the resulting soil stresses and ground settlement are also analysed. Furthermore, the locations of potential leakage and burst have also been identified by evaluating the contact pressures at the joints and by comparing stresses to the pipe hoop and axial failure strengths.

Abstract
The application of rib stiffeners is common on steel connections, with regard to the stiffened angle connection, experimental results about the influence of stiffeners under monotonic and cyclic loading are very limited. Consequently, this paper presents the experimental investigation on four types angle connections with or without stiffener under static loading and another four type stiffened angle connections subjected to cyclic loading. The static experimental result showed that the rib stiffener weld in tension zone of the connection greatly enhanced its initial rotational stiffness and flexural strength. While a stiffener was applied to the compression zone of the connection, it had not obvious influences on the initial rotational stiffness, but increased its flexural strength. The moment-rotation curves, skeleton curves, ductility, energy dissipation and rigidity were evaluated under cyclic loading. Stiffened top-and-seat angle connections behaved as semi-rigid and partial strength, and rotation of all stiffened angle connections exceeded 0.04rad. The failure modes between monotonic and cyclic loading test were completely different and indicated certain robustness.

Abstract
In order to study the natural vibration characteristics of steel-concrete composite truss beam (SCCTB), the influence of multiple factors such as interface slip, shear deformation and moment of inertia are considered. Afterwards, based on the Hamilton principle the vibration control differential equation and natural boundary conditions of SCCTB are deduced. By solving SCCTB differential equations of vibration control, an analytical calculation method is proposed for analyzing the natural vibration characteristics of SCCTB. The natural frequencies of SCCTBs with different degrees of shear connection and effective lengths are calculated by using the analytical method, and the results are compared against those obtained from ANSYS finite element numerical calculation method. The results show that the analytical method considering the influence factors such as interface slip, shear deformation and moment of inertia are in good agreement with those obtained from ANSYS finite element numerical calculation method. This evidences the correctness of the analytical method and show that the method proposed exhibits improvement over the previously developed theories for the natural vibration characteristics of SCCTB. Finally, based on the analytical method, the influence factors of SCCTB natural vibration characteristics are analyzed. The results indicate that the influence of interface slip stiffness on SCCTB\'s natural frequency is more than 10% and therefore cannot be neglected. Moreover, shear deformation has an effect of more than 35% on SCCTB\'s natural frequency and the effect cannot be ignored either in this case too.

Abstract
This work investigates a novel plate formulation and a modified couple stress theory that introduces a variable length scale parameter is presented to discuss the static and dynamic of functionally graded (FG) micro-plates. A new type of third-order shear deformation theory of Reddy that use only 4 unknowns by including undetermined integral variables is proposed in this study. The equations of motion are derived from Hamilton\'s principle. Analytical solutions are obtained for a simply supported micro-plate. Numerical examples are presented to examine the effect of the length scale parameter on the responses of micro-plates. The obtained results are compared with the previously published results to demonstrate the correctness of the present formulation.

Abstract
To study the effects of corner braces on fatigue performance of the U-rib and roof weld in steel bridge decks, the fatigue experiment was carried out to compare characteristics of the crack shape with and without corner braces. The improvement of fatigue life and stress variation after setting corner braces were also analysed. Different parameters of corner brace sizes, arrangements, and detail types were considered in the FEM models to obtain stress distribution and variation at the weld. Furthermore, enhancement of the fatigue performance by corner braces was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the corner brace could improve the fatigue life of the U-rib and roof weld, which exerted even no influence on the crack shape. Moreover, stress of the roof weld was decreased and the crack position was transferred from the root weld to U-rib and corner brace weld. It was suggested no weld scallop should be drilled on the corner brace. A transverse rib with lower height which was set between U-ribs was favourable for improvement of fatigue performance.

Abstract
Steel-concrete composite structure is widely applied to bridge engineering due to their outstanding mechanical properties and economic benefit. This paper studied a new type of steel-concrete composite anchorage system for a self-anchored suspension bridge and focused on the mechanical behavior and force transferring mechanism. A model with a scale of 1/2.5 was prepared and tested in ten loading cases in the laboratory, and their detailed stress distributions were measured. Meanwhile, a three-dimensional finite element model was established to understand the stress distributions and validated against the experimental measurement data. From the results of this study, a complicated stress distribution of the steel anchorage box with low stress level was observed. In addition, no damage and cracking was observed at the concrete surrounding this steel box. It can be concluded that the composite effect between the concrete surrounding the steel anchorage box and this steel box can be successfully developed. Consequently, the steel-concrete composite anchorage system illustrated an excellent mechanical response and high reliability.